HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  YiiMdi  :^],  1SG3.— Read  fust 
and  second  times,  laid  on  the  table  tind  oidered  to  be  printed. 


[By  Mr.  Cl.wv.] 

^    BILL 

To  be  entitled  An  Act  io  provide  for  keeping  in  repair  the  raih'oads  of 
the  Confederate  States  necefsnvy  for  the  tira.,-poit;!lion  of  troops 
.and  Government  supplies. 

1  Skction  1.    T/ie  Con[:r(s.'i  of  the  G.rJ'itirafe  SiaUs  of  ylnurlca  da 

2  enact.  That  Avhcn,  upon  any  raili'oad  in  l];e  Confederate  States, 

3  the  iisc  of  "which  is  necessary  to  tlie  Co\eru;ncnt  in  thfe  prosecu- 

4  tionof  the  war,  there  is,  or  shall  be,  such  ;iu  injury  sustained,  or 

5  such  a  deficiency  shall  exist  in  the  mils  or  rolling  stock  thereof 
G  as  to  destroy  or  impair  its  usefulness  as  a  raeaus  of  transporta- 
7  tion,  if  such  road  rhall  lie  owned  by  :m  incorpcrated  company,  it 

-  y  shall  be  laAvful  for  the  President  of  the  CtniVderate  States  to 

9  cause  such  injury  to  be  rcjiaired  or  deficiency  supplied  in  the 

10  most  prompt  and  e.xpctlitious  numner  at  the  cNpense  of  .^-aid  com- 

1 1  pany,  and  he  may,  for  this  purpose,  take  possession  of  said  road 
J 2  and  its  appurtenances,  or  may  enter  into  co:. tract  with  the  cou)- 


13  panv   owning  tlio  same  to  furnish  such  an  advance  of  money  or 

14  otlicr  government  liiJ  as  maybe  necessiiry  to  enable  the  company 

15  to  m:ike  the  needful  repairs  or  supply  ilcficicneies,  or  he  may 
IG  contract   for  an  I  purchase   such   rails _,   engines,   cars,  or  other 

17  appurtcnaucc's  a.s  may  be  re<[uircil,  or  may  cause  manufactories 

18  or  luichine  shops  t)  be  erected  at  suitable  points  for  the  construc- 

19  tion  of  such  rail.;  and  rolling   stock,  and  may  direct  such  details 

20  of  men  skilled  in  their  construction  to  bo  made  from  the  army  as 

21  may  be  necessary  to  Avork  in  such  shop^. 

1  Sec.  2.   All  engines^  cars  and  fixtures  placed  upon  any  railroad 

2  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act  shall  be  the  property  of   the 

3  Confederate  States  until   paid   for  by  tlio  company  o\Yning  such 

4  road,  and  the  cosl;  thereof,  as  well  as  all  monies  advanced  or  aid 

5  furnished  as  herein   provided,  shall  be  a  liability  on  the  part  of 
C)  the  company  rcceivinr.^  the  same  to  the  Government  of  the  Con- 

7  federate  States,  and  if"  not  absorbed  by  the  transportation   due 

8  from  the   Government  to  sucli  company,  shall  be  secured  to  the 

9  satisfaction  of  the  President. 

1  Six.  o.  This   A.t   shall  take  efifect  and  be  in  force  from  and 


2     after  its  passage 


